Page 17 - Centre

Telangana govt to legally challenge Centre's order on power dues

The Telangana government has decided to wage a legal battle against the Centre's direction to pay Rs 6,757 crore power dues to Andhra Pradesh

Delhi HC asks Centre to respond to plea filed by transport minister Gahlot

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response of the Centre on city Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot's plea challenging a provision which requires state government ministers, including the chief minister, to seek political clearances from the Centre for foreign visits. The petition was filed in the backdrop of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal being denied permission for his visit to Singapore for the 8th World Cities' Summit from July 31 to August 7. Justice Yashwant Varma issued notices and asked the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Union of India through Ministries of External Affairs, Finance and Home Affairs to file their counter affidavits in response to the petition. The court listed the matter for further hearing on January 23 next year as the counsel for the respondents sought time to file their replies. Gahlot was represented through senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the matter. The petition said this was not the first instance of such abuse of discretion and ..

Centre's special drive for disposal of pending matters to begin from Oct 2

The Centre has planned to begin a special drive to clear the disposal of pending matters across the Central ministries and government departments, an official satement said

Tikait accuses govt of misleading people over MSP, says stir will continue

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday accused the Centre of misleading people over the minimum support price for crops and said the stir for it will continue. Tikait said this while addressing the farmers who are protesting for the past 65 days against the acquisition of 1,810 acres by the government. Tikait said the government must pass a bill in Parliament, ensuring MSP for crops. He also alleged that the government is not ready to talk on farmers' issues. "Some traitors are roaming in the name of farmer leaders who speak the language of the government. The government is cheating the farmers but the farmers' fight will not end. Farmers will not bow down to the arbitrariness of the government," he said.

CBI FIR fake, Centre trying to eliminate state govts, says Manish Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday said the CBI FIR against him is "completely fake", and alleged that the BJP-ruled Centre is acting like a serial killer to eliminate state governments. He was speaking during the special session of the Delhi Assembly. Sisodia also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he "gets insecure" seeing good work done by others. "Prime Minister Modi gets insecure seeing good work by others. I have not seen a more insecure person than him. Had Arvind Kejriwal been the prime minister, he would not have done something like this had I been an education minister in some other government," Sisodia said in the Assembly. He said Arvind Kejriwal supported the prime minister in all the Centre's good initiatives but the prime minister did the opposite. Sisodia said CBI officers searched his clothes and even his children's clothes during the 14-hour raid at his house but found nothing. "The FIR against me is completely fake. I have committed

Non-cooperation often evidence of guilt, says Sibal on SC's Pegasus remark

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Friday attacked the government over a Supreme Court-appointed committee's observation that the Centre did not cooperate with the Pegasus probe, saying "non-cooperation" is often an evidence of guilt. The apex court on Thursday said the technical panel appointed by it to probe the unauthorised use of Pegasus has found some malware in five of the 29 mobile phones examined, but could not conclude whether it was due to the Israeli spyware. After perusing the report submitted by former Supreme Court Justice R V Raveendran, Chief Justice N V Ramana also noted that the central government did not cooperate with the probe. "Pegasus Supreme Court appointed Committee observed that the Government refused to cooperate in the probe. 5 of the 29 phones were infected with some malware," Sibal said. "Often non-cooperation is evidence of guilt. Time for government to come clean!" he said on Twitter. The top court last year ordered a probe into the allegations of the u

Centre signs long-term fertilisers import deal with Saudi Arabia

India and Saudi Arabia on Thursday signed a pact for an annual supply of 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia and DAP, NPK fertilisers for the next three years. Announcing the development in a series of tweets, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said Indian cooperative KRIBHCO has signed an agreement for investment in a new phosphate project of Saudi Arabia's largest mining firm Ma'aden. "With this, Indian companies have secured a 2.5 million tonnes annual supply of key raw materials like ammonia and finished fertilizers like DAP, NPKs for the next 3 years," the minister tweeted. A joint declaration was made to commit for the long-term supply of up to 1 million tonne of Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and NPKs per annum to KRIBHCO, he said. The collaboration includes joint development in agronomy, logistics solutions and product development to support farmers of both India and Saudi Arabia. The tie-up will add even more energy to India-Saudi Arabia friendship and benefit th

6-mth residence, 1-yr security: Govt amends rules for benefits to SC judges

Retired Chief Justice or retired judges shall be entitled to a security cover round the clock at residence in addition to round the clock personal security guard for a period of one yr from retirement

Amid Sisodia row, Centre suspends two officers in Delhi excise policy case

The Centre has suspended senior IAS officer A Gopi Krishna and Anand Kumar Tiwari, a DANICS officer, in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, officials said. While Krishna was the excise commissioner in the Delhi government, Anand Kumar was the deputy excise commissioner. The suspension order of the two officials came after they were named in the FIR filed by the CBI in the ongoing probe, officials said. While Krishna is a 2012 batch Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre officer, Tiwari is a 2003 Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Civil Service (DANICS) cadre officer. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is among the 15 individuals and entities named in the FIR registered by the CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi government's Excise Policy 2021-22. The agency on Friday carried out searches at 31 places including Sisodia's residence and ..

Centre is playing 'CBI-ED'; busy toppling govts, tweets CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday attacked the Centre over a host of issues, including inflation and unemployment, and wondered how will the nation progress like this. Who will people talk to about their issues when these people are playing 'CBI-ED' and are busy toppling governments, he said. "Rupee is falling, people are troubled by inflation, unemployment is at a high -- these people are playing 'CBI-ED', and are busy toppling governments chosen by people and trading barbs the whole day. "Who do people talk to about their issues and whom should they go to? How will the nation progress like this?" he said in a tweet in Hindi. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had on Sunday declared that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be a contest between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the AAP chief. Sisodia had said people are looking at Kejriwal as an alternative to Modi since the former talks about issues affecting the common man.

Did Gujarat govt consult Centre on Bilkis Bano case, asks Chidambaram

A special CBI court in Mumbai had sentenced the 11 accused on January 21, 2008. The Bombay High Court later upheld their conviction

Centre garners Rs 3,000 crore from windfall tax on oil and gas firms

It is likely to continue with the levy till the Indian basket of crude is above $80 a barrel

Centre advances devolution as states hunt for funds, transfers Rs 1.16 trn

Money will help carry out their capital expenditure and welfare spending plans

Centre notifies establishment of campuses of NFSU in Goa, Tripura

The Central government has notified the establishment of campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Goa and Tripura.The Women Safety Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday issued a notification mentioning the move of the Central government as part of plans to set up 10 NFSU campuses in different states and five abroad over the next five years."In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (4) of section 4 of the National Forensic Sciences University Act, 2020 (32 of 2020), the Central Government hereby notifies that the campuses established at Goa and Tripura shall include as the campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University," the notification reads.Gandhinagar-based National Forensic Science University (NFSU) was formed by an Act of Parliament in 2020. Establishing 10 NFSU campuses in different states is a move to incorporate forensic sciences into the police and judicial systems of states as per the requirements of their respective

Six merchant bankers in fray for HZL stake sale; presentation on Friday

As many as six merchant bankers are vying to handle and manage the sale of the government's 29.53 per cent residual stake in Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), according to an official notice

Your oral remarks in the 'freebie' case damaged our reputation: EC tells SC

Responding to a PIL filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in the Supreme Court, EC said that they support setting up an expert panel to discuss freebies, but it can not be a part of it

Banks wrote off Rs 10 trillion in last five financial years: Centre

A recent Parliament reply disclosed that scheduled commercial banks have written off loans worth about Rs 10 lakh crore in the last five financial years

One party did 'Parivarvad', other doing 'Dostvad': Kejriwal on Revdi remark

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal slammed Centre over the latter's 'Revdi' remark and claimed that one party (Congress) did 'Parivarvad' while the other party (BJP) ruling at the Centre is doing 'Dostvaad'

'What's wrong with free education, free healthcare': Delhi CM asks Centre

"We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the country's independence and we should be planning on strengthening such facilities but we are creating an atmosphere against them" he alleged.

CUET cancelled at some centres following reports of sabotage: UGC chief

Noting that there were reports and indications of "sabotage" in the conduct of the CUET-Undergraduate, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar on Sunday said the exam at certain centres was cancelled